Tragic Incident Involving Truck Driver and College Soccer Goalie

An incident in Ohio involved an Uzbek commercial truck driver who entered the United States through a diversity lottery, leading to the death of a college soccer goalie. Bekhzod Asrarov, 42, collided with a vehicle on Interstate 71 in Madison County, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Tobias “Toby” Forsythe, a goalkeeper at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

Sources reported that when Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers arrived, Asrarov, who holds a commercial driver’s license from Ohio, attempted to destroy his dash camera and logging device. He used Google Translate to communicate with the troopers at the scene.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concerns about truckers who cannot read road signs or speak with law enforcement, emphasizing the risks. He stated, “We cannot let truckers like Asrarov, who can’t read our road signs or speak to law enforcement, drive 80,000-pound rigs on America’s highways.”

Tobias Forsythe was joining the UMass Lowell River Hawks in 2026, having played for Ashland University and Shawnee State earlier. His death has deeply affected the athletics department at UMass Lowell, with athletic director Lynn Coutts expressing their heartbreak. “Although Toby’s time as a River Hawk was cut far too short, he left a meaningful impact,” Coutts said.

Coach Kyle Zenoni highlighted Forsythe’s dedication, mentioning how he strived to improve and competed every day. “He never looked for shortcuts and never expected anything to be given to him – he simply wanted the opportunity to earn it,” Zenoni stated. The team plans to honor Forsythe’s example going forward.

The Trump administration has increased efforts to revoke commercial driver’s licenses from immigrant drivers who lack English proficiency, viewing them as a risk on the roads. Recently, a Haitian national was charged in the death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper during a commercial vehicle inspection along Interstate 81.